Antony Chawagarira
HARARE – The organisers of Miss Rural Zimbabwe have secured permission to launch this year’s pageant at the Mbuya Nehanda National Monument in Harare, aiming to combine rural girl empowerment with the promotion of Zimbabwe’s cultural heritage. The national launch is scheduled for next week and will coincide with World Tourism Day, while the grand finale is expected to be held in Harare the following month.
The National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) has approved the use of the heritage site, and organisers are expected to meet additional requirements from the City of Harare and the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
The launch will include a street march near the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority offices, and a section of Samora Machel Avenue is expected to be temporarily closed to facilitate the event.
Miss Rural Zimbabwe founder and organiser Sipho Mazibuko said the choice of the Mbuya Nehanda monument was deliberate, as the pageant seeks to expose rural girls to Zimbabwe’s history and cultural heritage.
“We chose the Mbuya Nehanda statue because she is part of our cultural heritage,” she said.
Mazibuko said the event would provide an opportunity to educate young people about Mbuya Nehanda’s role in Zimbabwe’s liberation history while celebrating the country’s cultural identity.
The organisers said the launch would bring together culture, tourism, heritage, and rural girl empowerment, moving beyond the conventional beauty pageant format. Mazibuko said the street march would showcase Zimbabwe’s natural beauty and heritage, with traditional and cultural groups expected to participate.
Chiefs and the Chiefs Council have also been invited to the event, along with traditional cultural groups. The organisers said rural girls would be able to showcase their talents, beauty, and cultural heritage while gaining greater confidence and exposure.
Miss Rural Zimbabwe targets models from rural communities, particularly young women who may have limited access to the opportunities available to their urban counterparts. The pageant seeks to promote Ubuntu, confidence-building, and the empowerment of rural girls, while creating platforms through which they can contribute to their communities.
NMMZ Northern Region director Godhi Bvocho said the heritage authority welcomed the organisers’ decision to promote the national monument, describing the initiative as consistent with the objectives of heritage preservation.
The organisers are now working to finalise logistical arrangements and obtain the remaining clearances ahead of the launch. The initiative is expected to strengthen the connection between rural development, tourism and cultural preservation while giving participating girls an opportunity to take pride in their heritage.
